Race game apparatus



April 6, 1937- B. w. wlLLlAMs Ef A l. Y 2,076,055

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Patented Apr. 6, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE RACE GAME APPARATUS Application July 15, 1936, Serial No. 90,743

Claims.

'I'he present invention relates to a simulated racing game for amusement purposes, this application being an improvement over our co-pending application Serial Number 59,279 filed January l5, 1936 for Race game apparatus.

Generally, the game is of that type in which a suitable table is provided with a plurality of race- Ways, in each of which is moved an appropriate racing object. The group of racing objects, when the game is released for play, simultaneously leaves a starting position to be moved toward an objective or nish line. In their movement means is operative to vary the rate of travel of the several objects in a diierential manner, so that it will be impossible to predict which race object will win the race by first reaching the finish line. Accordingly, the maximum amusement value is created for the player who tries to guess which object will win the race.

In the prior application above identified the diferential .drive of the several race objects was controlled by electromagnetic means. While such control is effective for the purpose intended, it is relatively expensive to produce and further the making and breaking of the electrical contacts creates clicking noises which to some extent detracts from the pleasure of playing the game.

The object of the present invention is to simplify this structure to the end that clicking noises will be eliminated, and also materially to lessen the cost of manufacturing the game.

The main object of the present invention is to provide an improved race game apparatus.

Another object is to provide a plurality of race object endless chain or belt carriers in combination with an improved simple, and effective means for diierentially varying the speed or .drive of the said chains, so that the racing objects will advance toward the iinish line in an unpredictable manner.

Another object is to provide an improved electrically driven game apparatus and an improved mechanical control means for varying the travel of the several race objects.

Other important objects will be apparent to those skilled in this art as the disclosure is more fully made.

In the present practicable embodiment of the invention to be disclosed, the race objects will be in the form of horses tosimulate a horse race. Obviously these objects may assume other forms, such for example, as automobiles, walking race automatons, rabbits, or sail boats, and the like. In other words, the type of racing object to be employed is optional, for all types mentioned, and

others, may be used with the game apparatus of this invention.

Briefly, these desirable objects are attained in an illustrative embodiment of the invention by providing a suitable cabinet, which carries a hori- '5 zontal table formed with the Idesired number of parallel, spaced, slotted ways. At each end of the table, and on its under side, is a bracket carrying a cross shaft structure for mounting a plurality of spaced sprocket wheels. The wheels on 10 one end of the table are idlers and those at the other end are drivers; the wheels on the respective shaft structures being alined in pairs to carry a plurality of endless chains. These chains correspond in number with the slotted ways in the table so that each chain is xedly connected at one point with a mounting movable in a slotted way for carrying a race horse or other simulated object. l,

An electric motor, of the reversible type is 2O geared to drive the driven shaft structure, there being operatively associated with each drive sprocket wheel a friction clutch means. The drive sprockets are free on the shaft for independent rotation and the friction means normally holds the sprocket Wheels for turning with the shaft to drive the chains. An improved mechanical timing mechanism includes an auxiliary, constantly driven shaft located adjacent the sprocket wheel drive shaft, said auxiliary, or timer shaft, carrying timer trip disks including trips. There is a timer trip disk operatively associated with each sprocket Wheel clutch to release the latter at intervals for varying the movement of the chains and race objects carried thereby to make the result of the race uncertain.` This mechanical control means is so constructed that its timing may be set differently from time to time, thereby making it impossible to predict the cycle of operation.

The winning horse further closes another switch to cause energization of an electromagnetic device to operate an appropriate switch to establish circuits to cause reverse rotation of the motor, whereupon all chains are reversely driven to re- 45 turn all horses to their starting positions and aline same in a transverse row preparatory to the start of another race. The horses, of course, do not all return together; however, the controls are so arranged that when the last horse returns to the starting position the motor circuit is opened to cause cessation of its operation so that all parts come to rest preparatory to starting the 'next race.

So much, it is believed, will suce in giving a general View of the improved game apparatus. y

In the accompanying sheets of drawings the above preferred form of the invention is illustrated in detail. In these drawings:

Figure 1 is a general bottom plan view of the game structure;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the game taken along the line 2 2 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure S'is an enlarged side elevational view,

partlyin section, through a race object mounting, taken along the line 3 3 o-f Figure 4, looking in the direction of arrows;

Figure 4 is a detail, cross sectional `view, taken along the line 4 4 of Figure 3, to show the l5 mounting of a race object on the table;

Figure 5 is a detail side-view, partly'inssection, of the starting end of the drive chains, showing an associated idler wheel, taken along the line 5 5 of Figure 6, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 6 .isa fsimilarview, showing -the same parts, the section being taken along 'the ,-,line 6 6 of .Figure 1, -lookingin-the indicated-direction;

Figure -7 is a sectional-side view through the :driven fend `of -the .drive-chain structure, taken along-.the line `1 1 ofFigure, looking in the indicated direction;

Figure -8 .isan-end elevational view, partly in 30.sectionof -the structureshown inFigure '7;

Figure 9 is a detail, .side elevational view Vof .an Aelectromagnetic control for an illustrative type of motor reversing switch as viewed `from the line .9 9 .appearing in Figure .1;

AFigure 10 is 4an enlarged, detail, transverse sectional -view of --thedrive shaftassembly, taken falong theline .id lpf Figure f1, looking in the .direction of the arrows;

Figure l1 is a similar view through theidler sprocket shaft assembly taken along fthe line I ofFigure15, lookingfin the direction indilcated;

Figure V12 isa wiring diagram for the drive motor; and,

Figure 13.is a detail,.elevationa1 view, `partly ,in section, taken substantially along the line |3 .|3 of Figure .2, .looking in the.direction indicated The game is housed inany appropriate 'cahinet 120, fcarrying va .horizontal table `2 I extending from a front tva-11.2.2 to theopposite or rear wall, as shown. In .the present embodiment nine chains .and ,a .like number of .race objects, in .the1form of simulated horse figures are to be used. -As :shown .in .Figure l, the .intermediate portion of .the table 2| between .its side edges, .isfcut `out .to provide a .large rectangular ,opening,25. .At its ends are .mounted crosssupports 26 forcarrying ten .longitudinally running, in-

verted channel strips 21 having inturned .lower .anges .28 to `provide tracks. These channel Vstrips are transversely spaced .apart 4to 4provide nine parallel raceway slots .29.as shown .in ,Figure .1.

v Looking ,atFiguresBand 4 it -willbe seen that ,75 per projected end `of eachsupport 33, above the table has securely fastened thereto, an appropriate racing object, such for example, as the simulated race horses 34 shown. It will thus be seen that ten channel strips 21 are provided to create nine slotted race ways 29. Only nine slots are formed because each support 33 is offset to one side of its channel guide strip. The tenth strip 21 is merely vprovided to create a balanced, symmetrical appearance.

The forward, or starting end of the board, or table 2|, carries on its under side, a depending U-shaped bracket 35, which is disposed transversely. Journaled in the ends of the bracket is a transverse, horizontal idler shaft 36, which has loosely mounted thereon for independent rotation, v,nine sprocket wheels 31, held apartin suitably spaced relationship by collars. or spacer Vsleeves 38. Each sprocket wheel has respectively wrapped therearound the forward loop, of 1nine endless sprocket chains 39, which -run horizontally-below the table.

Each V.chain .39 carries .at xed transversely .alined ,points .a fastening .device l4|! (see Figure 4) forlrigidly .securingthe slides39 to the `upper run of the chains.x .The bracket35 along its front side furthercarries a .cross .bar 4| as shown in Figures 5 .and 6. .This ybar 4|, .in Aalinement witheachslide 3D, carries spaced insulator strips 42, which serve `in lmounting separate pairs .of conductor .spring -arms 43, extending .vertically .with .contact points 44 at .their upperends nor-- .mally .held engaged because of the spring in arms 43. Wires 45 respectively leadin parallel from the arms 43 as shown in Figures 5 and 12. One of the arms, the rear vone in .eachpairfextends higher than .its mate, said .higher .arm -43 carrying a bumper member 49 .in the path of movement of an end .wall 3| of the alined slide '39.

When the slide is in starting position the end3| thereof engages .the bumper 45 to spread the arms 43 apart to open the contacts `44 and break the circuit in which they are included, for a purpose later to appear.. When the slides leave the bumper, of course, the contacts 44 .automatically close.

At the winning endof the table, the same carries on its under side .another transverse .bracket 41, also U-shaped, and carrying as shown inFigures 7 and'8, a transverse drive shaft 48 on which are loosely mounted nine sprocket wheels 49, around which are respectively wrapped the nine drive chains '39. Around the shaft 48,.adjacent a face of each wheel 49, is a friction clutch disk 59. and adjacent each disk 5U the shaft has keyed thereto, a disk 5|. Each drive sprocket assembly thus includes aloose wheel 49, a loose disk 50,

and a keyed disk, or wheel 5|, with the friction disks.50 respectively sandwiched between a wheel 49 and wheel 5|. These unit assemblies are properly spaced apart along the shaft 48 by means of spacers 52. A spring 53 between one end of the bracket 41 and the adjacent wheel 49 serves to press all vunits yieldably to hold the friction disks in engagement with the respective wheels 49, 5| in each assembly.

As indicated in FigureV 7 each wheel 5| is provided with a circumferentially spaced series of holes 54 in any one of which may be mounted a transversely extending cylindrical pin 55, which may include a roller, if desired.

The underside of the table 2| carries a reversible type of electric motor 56 as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the motor having a shaft to drive a worm gear set 51, thereby turning .the drive shaft 48 through reduction gearing '51'.

lll

The depending ends of the bracket 41 carry a transverse, horizontal plate 58 as shown best in Figures '.7 and 8, said plate carrying nine upright brackets 59 for pivotally mounting a series of nine upright levers 60. Each lever at its upper end is formed with a bent end to provide a dog 6| adapted to be moved into engagement with the teeth on the adjacent sprocket wheels 49. Below this end 49, each lever 60 includes a cam, or wedge surface 62 adapted to lie respectively in the path of movement of the pins 55 on the wheels 5|.

Each lever 80 at a point midway or so between its ends has connected to it one end of a pull spring 63, the other end of which is connected to a channel shaped lever 64 pivoted at 65 to a bracket 66 mounted on the plate 58, as shown. Each lever 64 includes a bight portion carrying on its under face a trip element 61 located in a position to be engaged by an improved trip wheel structure presently to be described. Each lever 84 has the bight thereof stopped short of the end of the lever thereby providing a stop shoulder 69 and extended sides to span the respective levers 60.

- Below the drive shaft 48 the bracket 41 journals a transverse auxiliary control shaft 69 as shown best in Figures 7 and 8 and on said shaft is a sleeve structure 10 turning always with the shaft and including nine disk wheels 1| also turning with the shaft. Each disk wheel 1| is formed with a concentric ring of spaced holes 12 any one of which is adapted to receive and rmly hold a laterally extending trip pin and roller 13.

By means of these sockets 12 the pins on the several disk wheels 1| may be angularly offset relatively in any desired staggered relationship. It can now be seen that one wheel 1| is provided for each drive sprocket wheel 49 so that a control for each of the race object moving chains 39 can be achieved in a manner soon to appear.

The main drive shaft 48 is driven from the electric motor 56 in the manner already described. Said shaft 48 carries at one end in a manner later 'to be described and as seen in Figures 1 and 8 a sprocket wheel 14 for rotation to drive a sprocket chain 15 that serves to drive a sprocket wheel 16 in turn driving the shaft 69 and wheels 1|. Thus, the shaft 69 and wheels 1| turn in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 7.

In the position of the parts shown in Figures 7 and 8 the sprocket wheels 49 drive the chains 39. However, when a pin trip 13 of a control disk wheel 12 engages the arm 61 of the associated trip lever 64, said lever 64 is pushed downwardly i causing the shoulder 68 to separate from, or leave,

the associated upright lever 69, whereupon the spring 83 is operative to pull said lever 60 toward the adjacent sprocket Wheel 49 to engage the dog 6| in the teeth thereof for temporarilyy locking said wheel 49 against rotation. The associated loose friction disk 59 permits this to happen. However, the wheel 5| keyed to the shaft 48 continues to turn and eventually its pin 55 rides against the surface 62 to cam or wedge the lever 90 back to its position free of the .wheel 49, it being understood that the release action of the control wheel 1| is only momentary since said wheel 1| continues to rotate.

As the lever 60 thus is moved to its sprocket wheel releasing position the spring 83 is effective to raise the lever 64 until the shoulder 68 thereof locks with the lever 60 to hold the parts in the position shown in Figure '1. With the sprocket wheel 49 thus unlocked the friction disk 50 again serves to drive the same and its associ- 82 (see Figure 13).

ated chain 39.` By this means the chains y39 are moved and stopped to advance the horses carried thereby.

As shown in Figure 7 the bracket 41 carries a cross bar 11 for mounting adjacent each finishing end of the strips 21, an insulator pack 18 for carrying separate switch units, respectively comprising groups of two upright spring arms 19, each set including contacts 80 normally held gapped apart by the springiness of the stock, one of the arms in each set extending above its mate to carry a bumper element 8|. There are nine such switch units in the present form of the invention and each presents a bumper element 8| in the path of movement respectively of the slides 30, so that when any slide reaches the race finish line, it will engage and' close the switch unit for a purpose presently to appear.

The end of the drive shaft 48 away from the motor 56 carries loosely thereon a ratchet wheel Adjacent said wheel is a hub 83 keyed to the shaft 48 and including an arm 84 carrying a gravity pawl 85 and a stop 86 therefor. The hub 83 carries the sprocket wheel 14 heretofore mentioned so that it can be seen that the drive through chain 15 to the countershaft 69 is through the ratchet wheel 82 as governed by the gravity pawl driver 85.

Each switch 19 at one side connects by means of respective wires 81 with a main power line -wire 88 as shown in Figure 12, while the other side of each switch connects by means of taps 89 with a wire 90 leading to an electromagnet 9|. Looking now at Figures 1 and 9 it will be seen that the magnet 9| is mounted on a bracket 92 suitably carried by the underside of the table 2| or the adjacent side wall of the cabinet as desired. This bracket 92 also mountsa solenoid 93 having a core operating a link 94, which at its free end is pivotally connected to an arm 95 that normally is pulled by a spring 96 to back said arm against a stop pin 91 also carried on the bracket.

This arm 95 is rockably mounted on a horizontal shaft 98,the portion of the arm surrounding the shaft being enlarged as a wheel which includes a cam notch 99. This notch 99 is cooperable with the hook end on an armature |09 vancing the horses as in a race or are'to run in reverse for returning the horses to their starting positions. The form of reversing switch herein illustrated is merely by way of example and in practice other well known forms of switches accomplishing the desired result may be used.

A wire 90 as has been described, leads to the magnet 9| and a wire |91 leads from said magnet 9| to the mercury switch |85. A tap |08 leads from the wire |01 to the source of power adjacent the main line 88. A wire |99 leads from the switch |05 to a variable resistance H9 and thence to the motor 56. A wire connects the motor 56 and main line 8 8. A wire H2 goes from the motor 56 and connects with one side of each of the switches 43, the other side of said switches 43 connecting with a Wire ||3 leading the magnet 9|.

into the other mercury switch |06. Awire |4 leads from said switch |06 to 'the motor i56'and the other end of said switch |06 connects by -means of a wire with the-motorlead ||2.

A starting button switch I |16 on'the front wall 22 .of the cabinet connects a. wire ||1 with solenoid 93 and completes a circuit through wire |8 with the main line 88, there further being 'a tap ||9 connected between the power line Y|08 and solenoid 93. A wire runs from the switch |06 to the motor 56, as shown.

This completes the detailed description of the various parts, and the manner of use and mode of operation of the improved race game apparatus will next be described. y

In starting the play of the game the nine horse carriers are in the starting position at the front endof the tracks ..29 with all carriers and simulated horses in transverse alinement, and with the respective front walls 3| vof the carriers 30 pressed forwardly against the bumpers 46 to hold open all of theswitches 44. In this connection it is important to keep in mind the tilted vposition of both mercury switches |05 and |06. They are disposed for vrocking movement on a transverse horizontal-axis and they extend longitudinally. In starting both switches are tilted with their forward ends down and their rear ends up, the forward end, of course, being -in the direction of the front wall 22. The solenoid 93 andthe electromagnet 9| are deenergized since they are in open circuits. .Accordingly the springs 96- and v|02 hold the armatures for these electromagnetic devices in positions as shown in Figure 9.

The play begins when the starting switch H6 is closed, by hand or by a -coin released mechanism, if desired. Closing of the starting switch 'H6 as best seenin Figure .412 causes the solenoid 93 to be energized, whereupon the armature 94 is operative to pull the lever 95 (see Figure 9) to rock the shaft 490 and disk |03. This tilts both switches |05, |06 together. The shoulder 91locks with the hooked end |00 of the armature for The solenoid is only momentarily energized and the lock 91, |00 acts to hold the switches releasably in their newlytilted positions.

Going back now to Figure 12 when the switches |05, |05 have been tilted down at their rear ends, we iind certain circuits are closed. For instance, power goes through line |08, through tap wire |01 and into the switch |05, wire |09, resistance H6, to motor 56, and by tap shown to wire -80 to complete a motor circuit causing rotation of the motor in a direction that will drive the chains 39 to advance the horses from the starting position thereof and toward the finish line.

The motor 56 turns and itsshaft through worm gears 51, and reduction gearing shown in Figure 1, rotates the rear cross shaft 48. This causes all of the nine driver disks 5| to turn and through Athe friction meansf, each of the loose sprocket wheels 49 is driven to drive the nine chains 39. As a consequence all nine carrier slides 30 leave the switches-45, causing them to open, and to advance the horses 34 toward the winning end of the track.

The horses have how started their advance. As the shaft 48 turns the plate 84 also turns and when the gravity dog 05 hangs pendantly from its pivot, said dog will pick up and engage the ratchet wheel 82 to turn same. It follows, therefore, that the sprocket wheel 14 also turns to .drive the chain 15 andthe shaft 69. As the shaft 69 turns ,the pin wheeldisks :1| turn therewith; however, yunder the gravity'pawl drive ac tion the rdisks 1| do not turn evenly and continuously. Thus momentary stoppage of the disks 1| does occur. When a pin 13 engages and lowers a .lever 64 the associated spring 63 pulls the lever 60 to engage its stop 6| in the run of the adjacent sprocket wheel 49, thus locking said wheel 49 against rotation.

It .follows that the associated chain 39 stops and the horse fastened thereto temporarily comes to .rest to .delay its progress in the race. The associated driver wheel 5| continues to turn and eventually .its Apin engages the cam 62 to push the lever back or away from the sprocket wheel to free it, whereupon the friction disk A50 causes the said wheel again to be .driven to advance the delayed chain and horse. When Athe lever 6i! is thus `forced back the same interlocks with the lever arm 64 at the point 58 to releasably hold the lever 60 in its disengaged position.

By means of the `pin wheels 1| each -of the nine levers 60 is successively released to sprocket locking position. or" the trips '13 on the disks 1! serves to make the cycle of operation diicult to determine and by changing the relative positions of these trips 13 .on Vtheir wheels from time to time further diiicu'lty will be encountered by players attempting `toiigure the cycle of operations. The gravity pawl driver structure of Figure 13 still further makes it impossible to forecast the cycles of movement offthe horses because saidpawl driver acts in Van irregular, indeterminate manner.

In the same manner that the angular positioning of the pins 1.3 on the trip wheels 1| can be changed from time to time, so can lthe pins 5.5 on the disks 5| similarly vbe shifted to vary their order of operation. Thus, by the combination of the mechanical .timers on the shafts 48 and 69 and the irregularly operable gravity pawl drive it is difcult to predict with certainty what the cycles of movement of the horses will be. This is desirable from the standpoint of player interest.

Eventually, un-der the influence of the delayed action differential driving mechanism, one of the horses reaches the end of its raceway before any of the others. The first horse to reach the winning line causes the end 3| of the carrier .30 to push against the associated spring switch bumper .8|.

Let us assume thata horse in one track reaches the winning line rst and closes the end switch 80. Instantly a circuit from lead B8, a. wire 81, wire 96 sends Ithe current to the elemtromagnet 9| which is connected'by wire |08 to complete the circuit. 'I'he magnet 9| therefore `is energized.

As shown in Figure 9, the armature for said magnet 9| is moved against the pull of its spring to free the hooker end thereof from the shoulder 99, whereupon the spring 96 pulls the lever 95 to rock the disk 03 and tilt the mercury switches |65, |06 to the position shown in Figure 9.

The switch |05 is now reversed to break the motor circuits heretofore described which caused the drive to advance the horses toward the 1inish line. The circuit to the motor is now as follows: from wire |68, to wire |01, past switch to wire ||3, through closed switches 44 and Wire I2 and into themotor 56. By means of a Wire running from the motor and into wire |20 connection y,is made 4at the low end of switch The various angular placing L 06 with a wire IM and back into the motor 56. The lead III takes the motor back to the power line 88.

The reverse setting of the mercury switch |06 serves to effect through the circuits described, a reversal of the motor 56 and a reverse drive of all sprocket wheels 49 and the chains 39, thereby causing the carrier slides with the horses to be moved back to the starting line. Reverse drive of the shaft d8 does not -aect the auxiliary shaft 69'since the drive pawl 85 turning reversely merely rides idly over the ratchet wheel B2.

The slides 30 now return one by one in any order at a uniform rate of travel and as they reach the starting position each carrier slide in turn backs against the switches it to open the same. Since these switches are in parallel the motor circuit is not broken' until the last horse to return, which will be the Winning horse, closes its switch. Thus, when the last switch 44 is closed the motor circuit is completely broken and the motor 56 stops with all carriers 3Q holding open the nine switches 44 preparatory to the running of another race.

This completes the description of the operation and use of the improved game apparatus, and the same is now set for a subsequent play or race, when the starting switch llt is again closed.

It is the intention to cover all changes and departures from the example disclosed which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as indicated by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. In a race game having an elongated frame 7 carrying a transverse shaft at each end thereof,

one shaft carrying a plurality of idler sprocket wheels and the other shaft carrying a like ninnber of loose drive sprocket wheels, means for driving the latter shaft and means on said latter shaft for frictionally turning the drive sprocket wheels independently therewith, race object moving chains enveloping the idler and drive sprocket wheels, movably mounted brake members provided respectively for engaging the drive sprockets to hold them against rotation, movably mounted latch means provided respectively for holding the brake members in inoperative positions, the combination with said latch means of rotary trip devices respectively positioned adjacent the latch means for causing release of the latch means and movement of the brake members to drive sprocket engaging positions, and respective means operatively associated with each drive sprocket wheel to cause disengagement of the brake members and their return to latched inoperative positions.

2. In a race game having an elongated frame carrying a transverse shaft at each end thereof, one shaft carrying a plurality of idler sprocket wheels and the other shaft carrying a like number of loose drive sprocket wheels, means for driving the latter shaft and means on said latter shaft for frictionally turning the drive sprocket Wheels independently therewith, race object moving chains enveloping the idler and drive sprocket Vwheels, movably mounted brake members pro- Wheels and the other shaft carrying a like number of loose drive sprocket wheels, means for driving the latter shaft and means on said latter shaft for frictionally turning thef drive sprocket wheels independently therewith, race object moving chains enveloping the idler and drive sprocket wheels, movably mounted brake members provided respectively for engaging the drive sprockets to hold them against rotation, movably mounted latch means provided respectively for holding the brake members in inoperative positions, the combination with said latch means of a transverse auxiliary shaft disposed adjacent the drive shaft, rotary devices on said auxiliary shaft and turnable therewith, each of said devices including a trip for respectively engaging an associated latch means to free a brake member and cause its movement to drive sprocket braking position, and respective means operatively associated with each drive sprocket Wheel to release the brake members and cause their return to latched inoperative positions.

4. In a race game having an elongated frame carrying a transverse shaft at each end thereof,

one shaft carrying a plurality of idler sprocket wheels and the other shaft carrying a like number of loose drive sprocket wheels, means for driving the latter shaft and means on said latter shaft for frictionally turning the drive sprocket wheels independently therewith, race object moving chains enveloping vthe idler Vand drive sprocket wheels, movably mounted brake members provided respectively for engaging the drive sprockets to hold them against rotation, movably mounted latch means provided respectively for holding the brake members in inoperative positions, the combination with said latch means of a transverse auxiliary shaft disposed adjacent the drive shaft, means for intermittently driving the auxiliary shaft from the drive shaft, trip devices turnable with said auxiliary shaft, each device respectively associatedwith a latch member to engage same for releasing a brake member to cause engagement of the latter with a drive sprocket Wheel, and respective meansfor each drive sprocket wheel to release an applied brake member and cause its movement to inoperative latched position.

5. In a race game having an elongated frame carrying a transverse shaft at each end thereof, one shaft carrying a pluralityof idler sprocket Wheels and the other shaft carrying a like number of loose drive sprocket wheels, means for driving the latter shaft and means on said latter shaft for frictionally turning the drive sprocket wheels independently therewith, race object moving chains enveloping the idler and drive sprocket wheels, movably mounted brake members provided respectively for engaging the drive sprockets to hold them against rotation, movably mounted latch means provided respectively for holding the brake members in inoperative positions, the combination with said latch means of a transverse auxiliary shaft disposed adjacent the drive shaft, disks respectively associated with each latch member and mounted on the auxiliary shaft to turn therewith, means to drive the auxiliary shaftfrom .the drive shaft, trips `respectively disposed on `the disks and positioned to disengage the respective latch members to free the respective brake members for movement to drive sprocket braking positions, and means turnable with the drive shaft and disposed respectively for releasing the brake members from the drive sprocket wheels and causing return of the brake members to latched inoperative positions.

6. In a race game having an elongated frame carrying a transverse shaft at each end thereof, one shaft carrying a plurality of idler sprocket Wheels and the other shaft carrying a like number of loose drive sprocket wheels, means for driving the latter shaft and means on said latter shaft for frictionally turning the drive sprocket wheels independently therewith, race object moving chains enveloping the idler and drive f sprocket wheels, movably mounted brake members provided respectively for engaging the drive sprockets to hold them against rotation, movably mounted latch means provided respectively for holding the brake members in inoperative positions, the combination with said latch means of 35 brake members for movement to brake the drive sprocket wheels, and means for releasing the applied brake members and for causing return of the brake members to latched inoperative positions.

7. In a race game a drive shaft, a drive sprocket for a chain, the sprocket mounted loose on the shaft, a driver disk turnable with the shaft, means yieldably moving the sprocket against the disk, a friction member between the disk and `45 sprocket, said disk carrying .a trip pin, a spring pulled brake lever pivotally mounted adjacent the sprocket and adapted to brake the sprocket, a movably mounted latch member for normally holding the brake lever in released position, the

50 combination with said brakellever of an auxiliary shaft driven from the drive shaft, and means on said auxiliary shaft to release the latch member to cause movement of the brake lever to engage and brake the sprocket, a driver disk trip pin serving to disengage the brake and free the sprocket and cause movement of the brake to its released latched position.

8. In a race game a drive shaft, a drive sprockcombination with said brake lever of an auxiliary shaft carried adjacent the drive shaft, means for irregularly driving the auxiliary shaft from the drive shaft, and -a trip device turnable with the auxiliary shaft to cause release vof the latch member to cause movementof the brake lever to engage and brake the sprocket, the driver disk trip pin serving to disengage the brake and free the sprocket and cause movement of the brake to its released latched position.

9. In a race game a drive shaft, a drive sprocket for a chain, the sprocket mounted loose on the shaft, a driver disk turnable with the shaft, means yieldably moving the sprocket against the disk, a friction member between the disk and sprocket, said disk carrying a trip pin, a spring pulled brake lever pivotally mounted adjacent the sprocket and adapted to brake the sprocket, a movably mounted latch member for normally holding the brake lever in released position, the

combination with said brake lever of an auxiliary 5`' shaft carried adjacent the drive shaft, means for driving the auxiliary shaft, a disk turnable with the auxiliary shaft, a trip on said auxiliary shaft disk positioned to engage the latch and move it to free the brake lever for movement to BRADLEE W. WILLIAMS. HOMER S. WILLIAMS. 

